Elk Rifle

[Don458]

On my Elk hunt in Wyoming I used a 300 rem ultra mag -Rem 700 180gr swift scirocco shot at 325 yds.

 

[ftrovato]

This past November I used my Christensen Arms Ridgeline in 28 Nosler on a 6x6 elk in Idaho. Has a Huskemaw 5x25x50 Blue Diamond scope, shooting factory 160 grain Accubonds. Worked great. Previous rifle was a Browning A-bolt in 300WM with a Vortex Viper 5x25x50 scope, shooting 200 grain Nosler Partitions. Any of the 7mm or 30 caliber magnums will get it done on elk.

View attachment 662396

Amazing! Congrats!

 

[coreydb]

My two cents. When I was first starting to look at an Elk hunt, all the outfitters in Montana told me I needed a 300WinMag, so I bought one (it's still new in box). I called a New Mexico outfitter and he said my 308Win was more than enough, and he was right, dead elk. In fact, it also killed without a problem a large Red Stag in Croatia too. Don't buy into the must "have" caliber. The only must have is really a 375 in Africa, in case you run into something you were not expecting and want to make sure you have a legal caliber.

OMG! I did the exact same thing......the 308 is much more capable than many people believe, until they try.

 

[Altitude sickness]

A bolt 7 Rem Mag, I think Accubond 168? Broadside 302 yards. He went 20 yards

 

[TMac]

OMG! I did the exact same thing......the 308 is much more capable than many people believe, until they try.

Agree, a 308 Win is a great choice. I like a 260 or 7mm-08 for elk as well. No harm in larger cartridges at all, as long as one shoots them well. Place a decent bullet correctly and they go right down.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My go to rifle is a 8mm Rem Mag. It’s better than any .30 cal, in my opinion, under 600yds and is almost as good as a 340Wby. In fact I would have a 340Wby if I didn't already have a 8mm Rem Mag. The only downside with a 8mm Rem mag is, it is pretty much a hand loader's cartridge. But man it packs a punch.

@dchamp
I've never hunted elk but have hunted Sambar.
Dang them that elk must be awefull big critters to need such power and ranging ability.
If'n y'all need that much I spoze it rules out the itty bitty 35 Whelen and 400 yards fer them.
Just sayin as I ain't never hunted elk so wot would I know.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

30-06 worked fine for me. Not a gun that will shoot into the next zipcode ... but that's just shooting at elk, not hunting them.View attachment 661902

@Ontario Hunter
Now we're talking sensible.
Any range up to a max of 400 yards is fine. In reality most game is shot at 200 and more often far less.
If that once in a lifetime shot comes up at 600 yds I know I'm not going to take it as it's way above my comfort zone and skill level. I would much prefer to carry something that will get the job done on 99% of occasions than carry something for that just in case moment but that's me. If'n I can't find something closer well bad luck I will go home empty handed with no regrets

I remember reading about a person that bought a 338 for his elk hunt with his grandfather. Pappy laughed at the young fella. Short version they went hunting on horseback and Pappy took his Savage 99 in 259 Savage much to the youngn's horror. Elks spotted at around 70 yards. Pappy drew that ol Savage out and promptly dropped that elk on its arse deader than a dodo.
Now I'm not saying the 259 Savage is an elk cartridge but choose what will cover most situations not for one specific situation otherwise you may be disappointed.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m sure the 35 Whelen is all you need for anything the walks this planet, just ask Bob, he knows.

@Boyd Brooks
Even the Whelen is to much at times, but would make a fine and dandy elk rifle loaded with some nice 225 accubonds for reach out work or 250gn RNSP for 250yds and under.
Simplicity is the key. As long as it works for YOU fine as long as it's appropriate for the game
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

https://weatherby.com/rifles/model-307/. I’d consider the Alpine CT in 7 PRC, Leupold VX-5HD 3-15, try Federal Terminal Ascent 170 gr.

Same cartridge Tikka or Ruger American Gen 2 depending on budget. Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10 or 4.5-14.

I have a Ruger American Rimfire 17 hmr that shoots bug holes and have had good luck with Tikkas. The action is a bit rough on the Ruger, but it is ridiculously accurate.

Ok, I’m done spending your money for today lol.

@375Ruger416
Somehow me thinks the 17hmr may be a little light even tho accurate. May be ok on a head shot at shorter range tho.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Pre-‘64 Winchester M70 action, barreled .35 Whelen (24”), Boyd’s laminate stock and Leupold 6x scope, would be nearly perfect in my opinion. Now let’s talk bullets.

@RedTag
225gn accubond, Woodleigh, North fork, A frame.
250gn Speer, Hornady RNSP, Woodleigh.
Fegit Barnes to expensive. Cup and core work just fine in the Whelen.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Over the years, I’ve shot elk with a .264, .270, 7MM mag, 30-06, .300 Winchester and they all killed elk just fine. However, I settled on my elk rifle back in 1985, when I had a .338 Winchester built for me around a model 70 action. Once I started hunting with a .338 I never looked back.

Here’s my elk rifle:
Model 70 action, 24” Lilja stainless barrel, Timney trigger set to 2 3/4 lbs.
Brown Precision fiberglass stock with Pachmayr Decellerator pad
Leupold VX5HD with CDS & Firedot reticle in 2-10x, set in Talley mounts
I mostly shoot 225 Barnes TTSX or Federal Trophy Bonded Bearclaws
8.25 lbs. 3/4” groups with both loads.

It’s a fantastic elk rifle and pretty much everything else rifle. Easy to carry, milder felt recoil than you’d expect, hits hard. I think .338 Winchester may be the single best elk cartridge of all.

@DLSJR
Well second or third best
You forgot the mighty Whelen will do everything the 338 will and then some.
I'm still trying to convince @CoElkHunter of this as he owns and dare I say actually uses it for hunting but I don't believe him. I think he is a closet Whelen lover but won't admit it.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Killed a small 5X6 this year with a 28 nosler. I was prepared for a 500 yard shot, but we called this one to about 98 yards.

Cant go wrong with a 300 win mag

@revturbo9967
Like I keep saying
Not many 500yd shots but plenty at 200 and less, usually a lot less.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I started hunting elk with a old 30-06, moved on to a 7mm Rem mag, and now use a 340 Weatherby.

In my opinion the. 338's of the firearm world are the best elk caliber out there. The mags shoot quite flat and are accurate for the longer cross canyon shots that you encounter when hunting elk. That along with they pack a punch at those longer ranges.

My 340 packs a Leopold VX3 3.5-10x40

@JimP
What I can't understand especially in Australia is people won't hunt with a light weight Savage 338 LAPUA but then go out and buy a cartridge that has even more power as in the 340 Weatherby.
They tell me you don't need the power of the Lapua but the Weatherby is fine
Still scratching my head over that one.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

An important question is. What bullet are you using?

Heavy for caliber is my choice. Quality only of course.

Conditions matter too. I've hunted elk in the timber at close range. A .35 Whelen with a heavy, quality bullet would be best choice I'd go back with. When I go to the high plains on the Wyoming - Montana border every year I use my outfitters Gunwerks 7mm LRM and reach out to far distances. No one rifle can be the perfect all around elk rifle. I can think of several for different conditions, one can't do them all perfectly, but many, many can do it very well. I own a .300 Win Mag and shoot 200 grain Swift A-Frames. A good compromise out to 350 yards.

@Stormy Kromer
And the 300 at 350 yards will do what?
The Whelen loaded with a nice 225 gn accubond is fine to 400 with a lot more wallop and a similar trajectory to a 308 with 150s
Back line hold with the Whelen at 400 equals on very dead elk.
Bob

 

[JimP]

@JimP
What I can't understand especially in Australia is people won't hunt with a light weight Savage 338 LAPUA but then go out and buy a cartridge that has even more power as in the 340 Weatherby.
They tell me you don't need the power of the Lapua but the Weatherby is fine
Still scratching my head over that one.
Bob

The vast majority of hunters have no idea about ballistics.

They claim that they are shooting 700 yards when in reality that shot is less than 300 yards.

They also don't understand the reasoning behind rounds such as the Lupa, Lazorini, and other manufactures.

They like the Weatherby rounds because old uncle Jack used one and claimed that it struck down animals like a bolt of lightning from the hof Thor.

I personally was enamored with the 340 from the first time that I read about it in some outdoor magazine. I fell in love with the ballistics of it and decided that I would own one.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I may be physically larger than most, so I don't find a 10 pound rifle heavy.

Before I retired from Active Duty, it was not unusual for my team and I to carry packs close to 120 pounds in the steep mountains of Korea, and the 240B machine gun I often carried was 28 pounds or so, not counting 100 round belts of ammo. Any ground pounder that came from a combat arms MOS will tell you that after the insane weights we carried in the Army, civilian hunting gear of any weight is pure joy.

@skydiver386
Korea was a longtime ago 1953.
As we age even light becomes heavier after a while
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That's why I didn't mention that most of mine fell to Core-Lokts, lol

@Woodcarver
Critters sure don't like them Remington mushrooms.
Bob

 

[ftrovato]

The vast majority of hunters have no idea about ballistics.

They claim that they are shooting 700 yards when in reality that shot is less than 300 yards.

They also don't understand the reasoning behind rounds such as the Lupa, Lazorini, and other manufactures.

They like the Weatherby rounds because old uncle Jack used one and claimed that it struck down animals like a bolt of lightning from the hof Thor.

I personally was enamored with the 340 from the first time that I read about it in some outdoor magazine. I fell in love with the ballistics of it and decided that I would own one.

Love my 340. 160 grain to 275 grain bullets it gets it done. However if the 338 Ultra mag existed many moons ago I think I would have started with that 338. From that I understand it's less fickle and easier to get to shoot well.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That can't be true, cup and core don't kill, they just explode on impact of the first hair.

@YancyW
You is silly.
Those core lockt aren't cup and core.
Even Remington will tell you they are the deadliest mushrooms in the woods.
May be you should try shooting them with mushrooms if you don't like cup and core.
Bob

 

[ftrovato]

@revturbo9967
Like I keep saying
Not many 500yd shots but plenty at 200 and less, usually a lot less.
Bob

Bob,
I think I'm gonna have to drink the Kool Aid and just get a 35 Whelen! ;-)